Natural beauty, emotion, and enlightenment. These are but a few of the common threads of Seeking & Finding, an album of choral works by 2 composers whose pointed explorations of humanity resonate in perfect pitch. Working with texts from ancient Sanskrit literature and the poetry of Gibran and Joyce, Bakker (b. 1945) and Richards (1927-2010) share an ability to steer the chorus through the sea of human emotion and experience, with unmatched profundity and depth.

American Record Guide, January/February 2013Hans Bakker and Howard Richards combine familiar choir idioms with a few unexpected turns to craft an approachable experience that isn't entirely tired and predigested. The Noise of Waters, one of three pieces by Richards with text by James Joyce, has an inflected piano opening that veers into a much harsher tonal language than the sweeping choir's entrance. The Song of The Rain, one of three pieces by Richards using Kahil Gibran texts, is extremely linear. The next note is always the one you most expect and is often no more than a third away. Hans Bakker's pieces derive inspiration, melodically, more from plainchant than Richards's. Pater Noster I splits the choir into distinct sections trading phrases before coming together for a glorious perfect authentic cadence. Canto 33 is darker, but still quite tonal and includes more polyphony. It does include some unexpected intervals and the depth of tonal language they add contributes greatly to how enjoyable the piece is.